The 2024 NRL season is now a matter of hours away.
It will all start in Las Vegas when four teams face off in a doubleheader at Allegiant Stadium.
The league has undergone plenty of chances since its inception, and there are still plans to continue to expand the size of the competition.
MORE: NRL Las Vegas – When do the games start?
How many teams are in the NRL?
There are currently 17 teams in the NRL.
When the NRL was formed in 1998, there were 20 sides in the competition, including the expansion team for that year, the Melbourne Storm.
In the next couple of years, the league size decreased by six teams following some removals and mergers.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs were one of the teams removed, but they were re-admitted to the competition in 2002 following a legal battle.
Five years later, a 16th team was added to the NRL – the Gold Coast Titans.
In 2023, the Dolphins – based in Redcliffe, Queensland – became the latest side to be added to the league.
Who will the next NRL team be?
There continues to be plenty of discussion surrounding further expansion of the NRL.
Both 18-team and 20-time competitions have been floated, as well as the idea of splitting the league into two conferences, à la American sports leagues.
A return to the NRL for the North Sydney Bears is regularly raised.
Other possible locations for expansion teams include Adelaide, Perth and Papua New Guinea.